This discussion is in the very early conceptual stages. On April 20th the Common Council formally endorsed the concept, and instructed City staff to put together a draft agreement between the Milton Soccer Club, Inc. and the City. This draft agreement will be reviewed by the Council on May 4th. I would anticipate a couple more meetings before all of the final details are worked out, so there will still be time for public input on this project. If you would like to share your opinion on this project with the whole Common Council you can send an e-mail to council@ci.milton.wi.us.

Do you want to grow your own produce, but you don't have enough space in your yard for a garden? Solution: rent a plot of land from the City in the recently established Community Garden. Permits are only $10 for the entire summer and the plots are 25' by 25'. The Community Garden is located behind the Milton East Cemetery.

Click here to download the rules and application form for the Community Garden. The Milton Courier recent wrote an article about this program as well - check it out here (thanks for the coverage Rick).

Completed applications and permit fees can be dropped off at the Public Works Garage located at 620 W. Madison Avenue. Forms and fees can also be mailed to City Hall at 430 E. High Street, Suite 3. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Director of Public Works Howard Robinson at (608) 868-6914 or by e-mail at hrobinson@ci.milton.wi.us.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

You may have heard of the recent tragedy in the Town of Milton where two people died from Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning after leaving their car running in the garage. In light of this, I'd like to take a moment to remind everyone about the dangers of CO gas. This is important for all residents, whether you live in a single-family home, condo or apartment building.

Please take a moment to visit one or all of these links for more information on the dangers of Carbon Monoxide and what you can do to protect you and your family.

On May 15th the Milton Police Department will be hosting their first annual community recognition dinner. Here's the details:

WHAT: Law Enforcement Community Recognition Dinner

WHEN: Saturday, May 15th, 2010, (National Peace Officers Day)

WHERE: The Gathering Place, 715 Campus St., Milton WI, 53563

TIME: 6pm-9pm

The community recognition dinner is designed to celebrate national police week and the efforts of our police officers citizens and local businesses working hard to keep Milton safe. The Milton Police Department annual awards ceremony for police officers and citizens will also take place after the dinner. Several officers and civilian staff will be recognized for their work. We are also recognizing local citizens and businesses that have assisted us in our mission of Keeping Milton Safe. They are being recognized with what are known as “Community Partner Awards”. The partnerships that our citizens and businesses have with the police department help maintain our quality of life in Milton, and we felt some of these continued efforts are worthy of recognition.

The dinner is also being used as a fundraiser for the Milton PD’s crime prevention fund and promotes local business in Milton as a silent auction highlighting many Milton businesses is being held in conjunction with the event. Many City of Milton businesses have donated gift certificates and other items of value that will be auctioned off after the awards ceremony. All proceeds from the dinner and the silent auction support our crime prevention fund.

Tickets are $25, and only 150 tickets to the event will be sold. If you are interested in purchasing tickets or donating an item for the silent auction please contact Support Services Manager Becky Sexe at 608-868-6910 ext. 22 or via e-mail at miltonpd@charter.net.

Below is the text from a recent press release from Milton Police Chief Jerry Schuetz regarding Milton businesses being honored for preventing youth tobacco purchases. Pictured to the left is Sherry Fisher from Rock County Youth2youth presenting Mayor Chesmore with a certificate of excellence.

On April 20th, 2010 the City of Milton was honored by the Rock County Youth2youth tobacco prevention coalition for its successful efforts in preventing tobacco sales to those under the age of 18. Sherry Fisher from Rock County Youth2youth presented Mayor Chesmore with a certificate of excellence for having 100% compliance from our tobacco retailers in the City for the second consecutive year in a row.

The Rock County Youth2youth tobacco prevention coalition partners with the City of Milton Police Department to conduct compliance checks on an annual basis. The compliance checks ensure that retailers are checking for proper identification when a young person goes to purchase a tobacco product, and also ensures that retailers are not selling tobacco products to those under the age of 18. The City of Milton has had 100% compliance in these checks for the past two years, indicating that no retailer sold to an underage person during the compliance checks. The City of Milton is the first community in Rock County to accomplish this feat, and earn such distinction.

The award will be displayed in the lobby at the Milton Police Department. In early April of this year after the compliance checks were completed, the Milton PD sent congratulation letters to each successful business, thanking them for their continued successful efforts in preventing tobacco sales to those under the age of 18.

The 2010 Rock County Clean Sweep will be taking this Friday, April 30th from 1-4pm in Edgerton at the Edgerton City Garage (315 W. High Street) and on Saturday, May 1st from 8am-noon in Janesville at the Rock County Garage (3715 Newville Road). Registration is required because space is limited. Latex paint will not be accepted. Click here for more information about the Clean Sweep including what materials will be accepted.

Friday, April 23, 2010

This weekend will be the last weekend for putting your brush and yard waste out for the Spring curbside collection program. Here's the details:

Curbside Yard Waste Collection is being conducted from March 8-April 25. You are not allowed to rake yard waste or leaves into the curb during the Spring. Please place your yard waste in open containers (plastic bags, leaf bags, etc.) for collection. The bags are collected as time and weather allow.

Brush Collection will continue through April 25. Brush placed at the terrace will be collected as time and weather allow. Please follow these basic guidelines... Brush shall be no longer than 10' and have no diameter larger than 6". Brush shall be placed butt-end toward the street in the terrace right-of-way area, in neat and organized piles. For ease of collection, please stack the brush in organized piles.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Around 1:00 PM today you may have heard the Tornado Siren test for Rock County. This is Tornado Awareness Week so I would encourage you to spend some time talking with your family and your co-workers about plans in the event that the "real thing" ever threatens our community. More information on this can be found on FEMA's website at http://www.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/to_during.shtm.

Hey, did anyone notice that yesterday I posted the 200th blog entry since creating the blog in February of 2009. Thanks to all of you who follow Milton Matters! If you get a chance, please mention this blog to a friend or two and encourage them to subscribe. Thanks again.

This time of year the City gets lots of calls from folks wondering when the City-wide garage sale will be taking place. This year it will be on Saturday, June 5th. Traditionally, this always occurs on the first Saturday in June.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

DATE: Monday, April 26thTIME: 6:30 - 7:30 PMLOCATION: Milton Public Library, Heritage Room (just to the left of the library circulation desk)

Ald. Frazier welcomes any citizens to visit with him during his office hours. Citizens with questions or concerns about City business may meet with Ald. Frazier for an informal, face-to-face conversation during this time. Going forward, he plans to continue holding office hours on the fourth Monday of every month.

Today the City's Intern, Inga Jacobson, and I hosted a City of Milton Jeopardy Game at the Milton Area Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism (MACCIT) Monthly Membership Meeting. All of the City departments submitted questions and they were organized by department into a Jeopardy game.

If you would like to learn more about the City in a fun and interactive way, the game can be played on-line at http://jeopardylabs.com/play/city-of-milton-jeopardy. Many of the questions are specifically related to business issues, but some are also general City trivia.

The Milton Friends of the Library Book Sale will be held April 23-26 during the Library's regular hours. Named “One of the Best Area Book Sales” by a local dealer, you’ll love the selection (over 5,000 items for sale!) and prices (most items are $.50). There will also be a bake sale to satisfy your sweet tooth.

If you join Friends of the Library, you can shop first at the Friends Only Sale on Thursday, April 22. Memberships will be available at the door.

Monday, April 19, 2010

On May 22, 2010, the YMCA will be hosting their 3rd annual Tropical Fiesta in Milton. The event will be held at the Ott Schweitzer Warehouse at 616 Gateway Drive in Milton. Tickets are $50 in advance at $55 at the door. Admission includes all-you-can-eat Caribbean buffet, drinks, games, limbo and dancing on an outdoor dance floor, a commemorative photo, live music, YMCA Zumba Dancing, and raffles for great prizes. Tropical attire is suggested, and a prize will be awarded to the best dressed. All of the proceeds from the event will benefit the YMCA Youth Scholarship Campaign.

The event is sponsored in large part by Air Products of Milton. However, the YMCA is looking for more sponsors for the event. If you or your business is interested in being a sponsor, contact Desh Sherman-Moeller at (608) 754-6654 ext. 110 or by e-mail at dmoeller@ymcajanesville.org. To view the flyer for the event, go to the YMCA's website at http://www.ymcajanesville.org/tropical-fiesta.aspx.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

The City and MACCIT are currently working with Vandewalle & Associates out of Madison to develop a redevelopment plan and long-term "vision" for the Parkview Drive District (which I like to call Goodrich Square). Part of this process involves gathering community input and opinions.

On May 27th from 5:30-9 pm, the City, MACCIT, and Vandewalle & Associates will be holding an interactive community meeting called a "charrette" in the fellowship hall of Seventh Day Baptist Church (720 E. Madison Avenue). This will be an opportunity for community members, civic leaders, and the business community to learn about preliminary ideas for the district and also give their input. It will be a lively, informal, and highly interactive format. Click here to view the "Save the Date" invitation.

Refreshments will be provided, and participants are free to be come and go as needed. Be sure to mark your calendars if you think you may have interest in this topic. We hope you will be able to participate!

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Congratulations goes out to Ald. Dave Adams on his reelection to City Council. And, we welcome two new members to the Council - Robert McLinn and Nancy Lader. On behalf of the City staff, we look forward to working with all of you.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

The Common Council will hold their next meeting this Wednesday, April 7th, beginning earlier than usual at 6:00 PM (view full agenda here). The earlier time is for the purpose of interviewing three engineering/architectural firms who have submitted proposals for doing a Public Works Facility Needs and Site Selection Study (Agenda Item #2).

The purpose of this study is three-fold:

To review and assess the facility needs of the Department, taking into account both current and future needs; and

To perform a review of and offer recommendation on possible site alternatives with a cost/benefit analysis of each potential site; and

To prepare a preliminary cost estimate and construction timeline for facility construction in order to assist the City in financial planning for the project.

Milton Reads 2010 begins April 1. This year's selection, Sun,Stone, and Shadows, is a wonderful collection of short stories written by some of the best Mexican writers of the last century. The stories represent a remarkable array of Mexico's rich literary history. There is also a companion children's book, My Life with the Wave. Library events include book discussions, Mexican cuisine, and kid's events. Go to http://www.miltonpubliclibrary.org/ for more details. Below is a picture of many wonderful Milton-ites who gathered to celebrate our Kick Off of the Milton Reads program.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

The video replay of the recent Common Council Candidate Forum is now available on-line if you would like to see and hear the five candidates who are running for three seats on the Common Council. Click on this link to view the forum: http://rhm.milton.k12.wi.us/city/index.html.

The second grade students at Milton West and East Elementary Schools had a great time participating in "Touch a Truck" on March 23rd. This was the first time the program was provided by the City's Public Works Department, and hopefully not the last. The kids sure enjoyed it, and so did our DPW staff. Special thanks to the event sponsors, Baxter & Woodman Consulting Engineers ($200 donation - used to buy hard hats) and PrintMax (provided city logo stickers for hard hats).

In this first picture Donnie Zimmerman described all the features of the big snow plow truck. He answered many different questions, including "How much does the tire weigh?", "What does it cost?" and "Are you the guy who hit my mailbox?"

In the next picture Ken Viereck shows off the street sweeper. He showed the giant brushes and the large hopper which holds all of the "sweepings". His questions ranged from "How much do you make?" to "Can you sweep up a kid with that?"

Howard Robinson, the Milton Public Works Director, hands out hard hats featuring the City of Milton logo to all students who participated. Howie polled the crew to find out what some of the other questions were that we heard from our new friends. Here's our favorites:

Can it lift a bear?

Can girls run this?

How many pieces of salt are in the back of the truck?

How many bristles on the broom?

Why is it rusty?

And our favorite... "My dad is the Police Chief."

Thanks so much to the second graders and staff at Milton West and East Elementary Schools. Also, special thanks to the DPW staff who helped out with this program.

I would like to congratulate the Rock County Habitat for Humanity for hosting a wonderful Daddy/Daughter Dance earlier in March. A lot of hard work goes into planning an event like that, so special thanks goes out to all involved. More about the Rock County Habitat for Humanity can be found at their website at http://www.rockcountyhabitat.org/.

Here's a pic of Sydney and I dancing like crazy. Heard a lot of songs I didn't recognize, but all the girls in the room seemed to know them pretty well. Then there was the Chicken Dance - I knew that one. Hey dads, mark your calendars for Feb. 18, 2011... That next year's Daddy/Daughter Dance. See you then.

For the month of March each year, the Milton Historical Society reserves the Goodrich Wing to showcase the artwork of Milton students. In celebration of Youth Art Month, the Society invites the public to visit & enjoy pieces of art created & inspired by local budding artist. Check out the Milton School District Art Show on display throughout two floors of the Milton Historical Society. Exhibit is open Monday thru Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closing Ceremony is Sunday, April 11, 2010 - 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Located at the Milton Historical Society, 18 South Janesville Street. For more information call the Society at 868-7772.

Here's a sneak peek at a few items... The first pic shows a few oriental fans designed by second graders at Milton East. My daughter, Sydney, made the top-right fan. Great job Syd! The second picture is of a few students checking out some of the other creations on display.